Numbers 5:21-28

21 may the Lord make your name a curse among your people. May he cause your genital organs to shrink and your stomach to swell up.

22 May this water enter your stomach and cause it to swell up and your genital organs to shrink." The woman shall respond, "I agree; may the Lord do so."

23 Then the priest shall write this curse down and wash the writing off into the bowl of bitter water.

24 Before he makes the woman drink the water, which may then cause her bitter pain,

25 the priest shall take the offering of flour out of the woman's hands, hold it out in dedication to the Lord, and present it on the altar.

26 Then he shall take a handful of it as a token offering and burn it on the altar. Finally, he shall make the woman drink the water.

27 If she has committed adultery, the water will cause bitter pain; her stomach will swell up and her genital organs will shrink. Her name will become a curse among her people.

28 But if she is innocent, she will not be harmed and will be able to bear children.

Numbers 5:21-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 5

This chapter contains a repetition of some former laws, concerning putting unclean persons out of the camp, Nu 5:1-4; making restitution in case of trespass against another, Nu 5:5-8; and of giving the offering of all holy things and all hallowed things to the priests, Nu 5:9,10; and a new law concerning jealousy, in a man, of his wife, Nu 5:11-14; when she was to be brought to the priest, and various rites and ceremonies to be used, Nu 5:15-23; who was to give her bitter water as a trial of her chastity, which, if guilty, would have a strange effect upon her, and make her accursed, but if not, would not affect her, and she would be free and happy, Nu 5:24-31.